USPTO Patents Application 10761962

1-2. (Canceled)

3, (Withdrawn) A medical capsule retrieval device according to claim 2, wherein
the magnet arranged in the retrieval device comprises a flexible bar-like handle portion.
4-10. (Cancelled)

1 1 . (Withdrawn) A medical capsule retrieval device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the medical capsule retrieval device is integrated with a toilet bowl.

12. (Canceled)

13. (Withdrawn) A medical capsule retrieval device according to claim 12,
wherein the medical capsule retrieval device has a toilet seat configuration.

14. (Withdrawn) A medical capsule retrieval device comprising a detector for
detecting a medical capsule discharged from within the human body, and an alerting unit for
alerting to the detection of the medical capsule.

15. (Withdrawn) A medical capsule retrieval device according to claim 14,
wherein the alerting unit comprises a vibration generator.

16. (Withdrawn) A medical capsule retrieval device according to claim 14,
wherein the alerting unit comprises a light emitting element including one of an LED, an EL
device, and an electric bulb.

17. (Withdrawn) A medical capsule retrieval device according to claim 14,
wherein the alerting unit comprises a liquid crystal display.

18. (Withdrawn) A medical capsule retrieval device according to claim 14,
wherein the alerting unit comprises one of a buzzer and a sound generator for generating a
melody or a sound.

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19. (Withdrawn) A medical capsule retrieval device according to claim 14,
further comprising one of a bag and a box for enclosing together the medical capsule and a unit
of the medical capsule retrieval device.

20. (Withdrawn) A medical capsule retrieval device according to claim 14,
wherein the medical capsule retrieval device is integrated with a toilet bowl.

21 . (Withdrawn) A medical capsule retrieval device according to claim 14,
wherein the medical capsule retrieval device is attached to a toilet bowl.

22. (Withdrawn) A medical capsule retrieval device according to claim 21,
wherein the medical capsule retrieval device has a toilet seat configuration.

23. (Withdrawn) A medical capsule retrieval device comprising a detector for
detecting a medical capsule discharged from within the human body, and/or a catch unit for
catching the medical capsule, and a washing unit for washing the discharged medical capsule.

24. (Withdrawn) A medical capsule retrieval device according to claim 23,
further comprising a closure unit for enclosing the medical capsule, washed by the washing unit,
in one of a bag and a box.

25. (Withdrawn) A medical capsule retrieval device according to claim 23,
wherein the medical capsule retrieval device is integrated with a toilet bowl.

26. (Withdrawn) A medical capsule retrieval device according to claim 23,
wherein the washing unit comprises a vibration generator that washes soil away from the medical
capsule by vibration.

27. (Withdrawn) A medical capsule retrieval device according to claim 26,
wherein the vibration generator comprises an ultrasonic transducer.

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28. (Withdrawn) A medical capsule retrieval device according to claim 23,
wherein the washing unit comprises an alerting device for alerting to the completion of a
washing operation.

29. (Canceled)

30. (Withdrawn) A retrieval method for retrieving a medical capsule according to
claim 29, further comprising a step of detecting, with a detector, the medical capsule prior to the
catching of the medical capsule by the catch unit or at the same moment the medical capsule is
caught by the catch unit.

31. (Canceled)

32. (Withdrawn) A retrieval method for retrieving a medical capsule, comprising
a step of detecting the medical capsule discharged from within the human body using a detector,
and a step of alerting to the detection of the medical capsule using an alerting unit.

33. (Withdrawn) A medical capsule retrieval device, attached to a toilet bowl or a
toilet bowl dedicated to a capsule retrieval for use, comprising a medical capsule containing a
member including one of a metal and a magnet to which an automatic sensing device responds,
the automatic sensing device for sensing the member, and an automatic washing unit and/or an
alerting unit.

34. (Withdrawn) A capsule retrieval and washing device comprising:

a medical capsule containing a metal member, and a retrieval unit with a washing
function, attached to a toilet bowl or a toilet bowl dedicated to a capsule retrieval for use, and
having a retrieval net and a metal detector, and an alerting unit that automatically alerts to the
discharging of the medical capsule, wherein the metal detector automatically detects whether or

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not a metal is contained in an excrement, and the medical capsule and the retrieval net are
automatically washed together when the metal detector responds to the metal.

35. (Withdrawn) A capsule retrieval and washing method for a capsule retrieval
and washing device comprising a medical capsule containing a metal member, and a retrieval
unit with a washing function, attached to a toilet howl or a toilet bowl dedicated to a capsule
retrieval for use, and having a retrieval net and a metal detector, the capsule retrieval and
washing method comprising the steps of: automatically detecting whether a metal is contained in
an excrement, automatically washing the medical capsule and the retrieval net together if the
metal detector detects the presence of a metal in the excrement, and automatically alerting to the
discharging of the medical capsule from within the human body.

36. (Withdrawn) A capsule retrieval and washing device comprising:

a medical capsule containing a magnet, and a retrieval unit with a washing
function, attached to a toilet bowl dedicated to a capsule retrieval for use or a toilet bowl, and
having a retrieval net and a magnetic sensor, and an alerting unit that automatically alerts to the
discharging of the medical capsule, wherein the magnetic sensor automatically detects whether
or not a magnet is contained in an excrement, and the medical capsule and the retrieval net are
automatically washed together when the magnetic sensor responds to the magnet.

37. (Withdrawn) A capsule retrieval and washing method for a capsule retrieval
and washing device comprising a medical capsule containing a magnet, and a retrieval unit with
a washing function, attached to a toilet bowl dedicated to a capsule retrieval for use or a toilet
bowl, and having a retrieval net and a magnetic sensor, the capsule retrieval and washing method
comprising the steps of: automatically detecting whether the magnet is contained in an
excrement, automatically washing the medical capsule and the retrieval net together if the

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magnetic sensor responds to the presence of the magnet in the excrement, and automatically
alerting to the discharging of the medical capsule from within the human body.

38. (Withdrawn) A medical capsule rettieval device comprising a receiver for
receiving a signal emitted from a medical capsule discharged from within the human body.

39. (Withdrawn) A medical capsule retrieval device according to claim 38,
wherein the signal comprises one of a radio wave and an optical signal.

40. (Withdrawn) A medical capsule retrieval device according to claim 39,
wherein the signal comprises examination data acquired from the medical capsule.

41 . (Withdrawn) A medical capsule retrieval device according to claim 39,
wherein the signal comprises image data.

42. (Withdrawn) A medical capsule retrieval device comprising a medical
capsule containing a signal transmitter, a detector that detects that medical capsule is discharged
from within the human body, and a signal receiver that receives a signal from the signal
transmitter.

43. (Withdrawn) A medical capsule retrieval method comprising a step for
detecting, with a detector, that a medical capsule containing a signal transmitter is discharged
from within the human body, and a step for receiving a signal from the signal transmitter with a
signal receiver.

44. (Currently Amended) A media tmedical capsule retrieval device comprising:

a curvabl e foldable handle for adapting to a shape of a portion of a toilet bowl; and
a catching unit for catching a medical capsule discharged from within a human

body, the catching unit being connected with one end of the handle and having a size to allow

covering a drain hole of the toilet bowl, wherein

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the catching unit includes a magnet for magn e tically attracting - one of a magn etic
material and a magn e t within the medical capsul e ; and

the catching unit is a net for retrieving or catching the medical capsule, and at
l e ast a part of the net for retrieving or catching the capsule is formed of a magnet or a magnetic
material for magnetically attracting one of a magnetic material and a magnet within the medical
capsule, the net being elastically formed of a fine member and taking a shape of a bowl by
gravity, the net having mesh with a size not allowing passafie of the medical capsule .

45-49. (Canceled)

50. (Currently Amended) The medMrnedical capsule retrieval device according
to Claim 44, further comprising a bag capable of enclosing together the medical capsule and the
medial capsule retrieval device.

51-53. (Canceled)

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